The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-22
AN INCOME FROM BEGGING.
A "Professionai'' who Soiicits Charitable
Suhscrinfi ions for A Commission.


subscriptions for Commission.
In one of the handsomest flats in New
York resides man who is professional
beggar. BY following this occupation he
las IN income of SIC, 900 per year. He
goes into good society and is one of tho
greatest wits and practical jolsers in
town, SO that his company is much
sought after. He does not go prowllng
about the streets, however, begging q
quarter or whatever he can get. He
would disdain TO accept less than 500,
still he manages to collect $50, 600 every
year, He used TO be, drummer for
one of the largest dry goods houses here,
and an excellent one he was, too, but Inc
found he could mako more money beg
ging. lie never asks money from any
one but rich people; and believe that if
any other kind of people were to offer
him money he would refuse it. He does
not, however, beg directly for himself,
but for the New York Childrens home.
The head of the dry goods firm with
which he was formerly engaged is tho
president of this institution. and, know
ing that his salesman was noted for his
check, he asked him one day during
dull season if he would circulate among
the millionaires and get up subscriptions
for the maintenance of the institution.
He agreed, and the first day he started
out he collected more than it was eX-
pected he could do in week. The re-
suit was that he was offered q certain
percentage OF what he collected, and he
found that it would pay him to keep at it
all the time. tla
He says at first it was very trying work,
but now he has it so systematized that on
the whole he rather likes the business,
aside from what money there is in it. My
experience" he said, ''shows me that the
average New York millionaire il much
moro liberal man than the puplic supposes.
The only difficulty is in seeing these men
and presenting your claims. [ worked six
months before was able to sec Jay Gould.
During that time went to his office on an
average of twice q day, and my efforts
were in vain.
FINALLY, caught him on an elevated
train, and, seating myself beside him, he
was obliged to listen to me. | asked him
for $500. He told me to call on him the
next day and he would give me his check
for the amount. Invent to his Office, but,
Notwithstanding stated what had passed
between the millionaire and myself, L was
refused admittance to his private room. l
then made up my mind that Mr. Gould had
thrown me OFF, but 1 was determined to
watch him again. found out where he
kept his private bank account and got
check on that institution, which | filled
out for $780, A month afterward / ran
across Mr.. Gould again in the Windsor
hotel. He did not remember me, but /
recalled our conversation, and he again
told me to call at his Office. but replied
by presenting him the check ard telling
him il would not take moment TO put
his signature to it, and be did. Since
then Mr.. Gould has every year renewed
his subscription without any difficulty,
and really believe it gives him pleasure
to do so. Since then have got to know
him, and the public would be surprised if
it knew the amount he gives away each
year in charity in this transformations
manner.
II had still greater difficulty in secur-
ing q subscription from the late William
Ii. Vanderbilt. / knew very well that if
could talk with Mr.. Vanderbilt there
would be no trouble about getting him to
give me subscription, and, after innu-
merable calls upon him without success,
I discovered that he was in tho habit of
having his tailor send man to measure
him at his house for suit of clothes. /
went one night to the mansion and re-
presented myself as tailor, and in this
way was ,ishcred into Mr.. iVanderbilt's
presence. After exchanging greetings I
said:
"'Mr. Vanderbilt, in order to get to see
you have lied; but have done it in be-
half of charity. Instead of calling and
measuring you for suit of clothes /
have come TO measure your generosity in
behalf Of a most worthy institution.
''rhe millionaire was very angry at
first and started to call his valet and
have him show mo to the door, but inn
peded his exit and kept on talking, and
before got. through had Mr.. Wander
bits check for a neat sum, besides talk
ing glass Of wine and q cigar with him.
Up to the time of his death he always re-
newed his subscription, and his sons now
do it for him.
''The easiest of the ,nillionaires to get
money from up to year or so ago was
| r. p. Flower, but his warm hearted gen.
crosby became so well known that the
man was actually prosecuted. lie is so
democratic in his manners that any one
who desires can get an audience with
him, and there is always lot of beggars
about his office, hence he was compelled
to mako it q rule only to subscribe to
organized charity. Now, if you would
see the subscription books of the various
charitable institutions, you would see
that New York's rich men are pretty well
represented upon them. New York
Cor. Kansas City Times.